Intention Setting: A New Approach to Aligning with My Purpose and Goals
It’s easy to think that if we didn’t set clear intentions on January 1st, we’ve somehow missed the window to start fresh. But the truth is, it’s never too late to pause, reflect, and realign. Whether it’s the beginning of the year, the middle of a busy season, or just a moment when things don’t feel quite right, now is always a great time to check in with ourselves and set a clear direction.
That’s exactly what I did at the start of this year, but the process I followed isn’t just for New Year’s — it’s a framework that can be used anytime you want to refocus and move forward with more clarity and purpose.
In the video below, I walk through how I approached my intention setting this year — how I reflected on the past, clarified my priorities, and even used AI as a new way of visioning that felt more natural and aligned with how I think best.
If you’re feeling like you need a reset, no matter the time of year, this might be just what you need.
A Simple but Powerful Framework for Setting Intentions
For me, intention setting starts with reflection. Before looking forward, I take time to look back — mapping out the key milestones, projects, and experiences from the past year.
From there, I ask myself what gave me energy, what drained me, and what insights I can carry forward. This exercise helps me recognize patterns and get clear on what I want more (or less) of in the months ahead.
Once I have that foundation, I focus on the big picture. What are the key challenges I need to solve for myself, my business, and my clients? What strengths do I already have that I can tap into more intentionally?
Answering these questions helps me shape a vision for the next few years and build a plan for what’s next.
Bringing AI into the Process
One shift I made this year was how I captured my vision. Instead of sitting down to write my goals, I tried something different: I used ChatGPT as a thinking partner. I went for a walk, opened ChatGPT on my phone, and spoke my thoughts aloud in a stream-of-consciousness style.
By giving ChatGPT a clear prompt ahead of time and then talking through my ideas while moving, I was able to generate a vision that still sounded like me — but with added structure and clarity. From there, I refined it further, pulling out themes, setting clear intentions, and even establishing decision criteria that will help me navigate the year ahead.
Using AI in this way didn’t replace my thinking — it enhanced it, helping me process and organize my ideas in a way that felt natural and productive.
Rooting Intentions in Purpose
Of course, no intention-setting process is complete without reconnecting to purpose. I always take time to reflect on:
What am I most passionate about?
What are my biggest strengths?
What problems do I love solving?
How do I know I’m working in my “sweet spot”?
Aligning my intentions with these core elements ensures that I’m not just setting goals for the sake of it — I’m creating a vision that feels energizing, fulfilling, and aligned with what truly matters to me.
It’s Never Too Late to Reset
Whether you started the year with a clear vision or you’re only now realizing you need a reset, there’s no deadline for setting intentions. Whenever things feel unclear or misaligned, taking time to reflect, refocus, and realign can make all the difference.
If you’re looking for a way to set clearer intentions for yourself, your team, or your organization, I’d love to chat. Whether you want to try this process on your own and need a few pointers or you’d like some guidance along the way, let’s connect.
Here’s to setting intentions that truly matter — no matter when you start.